Endorsed by big business group, Brown hit by Dems on outsourcing, women’s issues

Democrats ratched up attacks on Republican U.S. Senate challenger Scott Brown Tuesday on both women issues and jobs, calling him at once a supporter of “outsourcing” and someone who will “restrict women’s access to health care.”

Brown was initially backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in early September when the organization aired a television ad featuring Mitt Romney praising him. The endorsement was made official today at Rapid Sheet Metal, Inc., in Nashua.

Rob Engstrom, the chamber of commerce’s national political director, said, “This race represents one of the clearest choices between failed economic policies and a new vision for our country that will prioritize growth and prosperity. Scott Brown is a demonstrated leader who will represent New Hampshire values above all and fight for job creation and free enterprise.”

Brown received the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Business on Monday.

The state Democratic Party countered that Brown and the U.S. Chamber are promoters of outsourcing jobs to foreign countries.

In 2010 the chamber opposed federal legislation to end tax breaks for companies that sent jobs offshore and then import their products back into the United States.

“Working families in New Hampshire should know exactly who is spending millions to get Scott Brown back in the Senate: companies that outsource and groups that support outsourcing,” said Mark MacKenzie,president of the state AFL-CIO. “Last month we learned that Brown was collecting a personal paycheck to the tune of more than a quarter-million dollars from a company that outsourced,” referring to his role at Kadant, Inc. “And today, Brown accepts the endorsement of a pro-outsourcing group. We know who Brown is working for, and it’s not Granite Staters.”

The PAC began airing a new television ad, entitled “Restrict,” in which women say Brown “will restrict women’s access to health care,” call him “no good for New Hampshire,” a “carpetbagger” and say “he’s just not on our side.” It cites his support for the Blunt Amendment, which would have allowed religious groups and employers with moral objections to opt out of the Affordable Care Act’s contraception coverage requirement.

The ad also says he voted to “end funding” for Planned Parenthood.

View the ad below.

But the Brown campaign pointed out that the pro-choice advocacy group NARAL, which endorsed Shaheen this week, in 2011 praised Brown for opposing a House Republican effort to eliminate funding for the group.

It pointed to several instances in which Brown was quoted as opposing defunding of Planned Parenthood.

The state Republican Party added, ““In Washington, Jeanne Shaheen has voted with President Obama 99 percent of the time and consistently sided with union bosses over special interest groups. Scott Brown has consistently stood up for small businesses and has a 94 percent lifetime rating with the National Federation of Independent Businesses, compared to Jeanne Shaheen’s disappointing 30 percent lifetime rating, including a zero percent score for this Congress. In November, Granite Staters will replace Jeanne Shaheen with Scott Brown, who is committed to creating jobs, growing the economy and securing our nation.”